The Final Days

South Africa has been an amazing experience. The past two days we spent in the bush in Kruger. Yes, the bush. Kruger is the largest wildlife preserve in South Africa. It is roughly 7,500 square miles; equivalent to the size of Israel. Surprising to us, we did not have internet or even working phones. (This explains three days of backlogged emails from family and friends and no posts). We did take a safari and see 4 of the Big 5 animals: Elephant, Leopard, Buffalo, and rhino. The only creature to elude us was the lion. Normally the leopard presents the most trouble. In our case, we not only got to see one leopard, but track another while it was stalking impala.
Once out of the bush, we traveled to White River to visit Hands at Work, Two Sister’s Orphanage and a volunteer home based care clinic. These places were all amazing. Hands at Work is a group that has a presence in several countries in Africa. They provide too many services to list here. We talked with a woman named Sandy. She is from upstate New York and spends 10 months of the year in White River, just outside of the Masoyi township. She has walked in the townships teaching, caring and helping others in need. Two Sister’s Orphanage was founded by Patrick Thibedi. He is a former political prisoner from Robben Island. Once released 10 years into his 24 year sentence, he and his wife started the orphanage. The name “Two Sisters” came about from two orphans that died of HIV/AIDS under Patrick’s care. Patrick cares for 230 children. Most of these children remain in the homes where they lived when their parents were live. Patrick trains and places foster parents in the home with the children. Through his efforts, Patrick now has 2 orphans that have become lawyers and 1 who is a doctor. This number may seem small but, considering the short time the program has been around and other factors, it is the start of what could be an amazing turnaround in South Africa. Finally, the volunteer home based care clinic is run by Momma Florence. She and her volunteers travel on foot to comfort those afflicted with HIV and AIDS. They also run a preschool for 39 children. Right now their biggest issue is a lack of accounting help. They are becoming large enough to need an accountant to help. They also only have one computer that is capable of having the internet. That means five people in the office need to share one computer.
Tomorrow is our final day a South Africa. We will meet with the director of Hands at Work in the morning over breakfast. After, we fly back into Joburg and await our 5:30 flight back to the states.
The experience is something I will never forget. The people listed on these posts are all making a difference in a country that has seen its fair share of down swings. Over dinner tonight we began discussing the biggest question we will face as we return to our “normal” lives on Monday, “How has this experience affected you?” The answer is too big to write here. I could go on at length about how my life will be different. It would take no effort at all to write an 80 page paper on the experience. The only thing I can say is the following: Words, pictures and interviews will never display the experience South Africa has given to me. To understand what this country is truly like you must see it for yourself.
So, as we all pack for the return trip home, I cannot help but think when I will have the opportunity to come back. Right now, we are working on completing a paper on micro-lending. It has been accepted for presentation at a conference in Ireland in June. If everything goes according to plan, we will be able to take the model presented in the paper and apply in August in Malawi.